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Mondays

Elvis in the 1950s, Richie Unterberger 
July 6 – 27 | 10–11:40 a.m. (four Mondays)

In 1956, Elvis Presley became early rock ’n’ roll’s biggest superstar with the #1 hit “Heartbreak Hotel,” followed by huge smashes like “Hound Dog,” “All Shook Up,” and “Jailhouse Rock.” This four-session course details his seismic impact on both popular music and youth culture, starting with his rise to stardom with his innovative fusion of country and blues into rockabilly in 1954 and 1955 with Sun Records in Memphis. His peak years with RCA in 1956 and 1957 are also detailed, along with his entry into movie stardom and the conclusion of his most exciting years with his 1958 induction into the Army.

A Cosmic Buffet - Intriguing Topics in Astronomy 
July 6 – 27 | 2–3:40 p.m. (Four Mondays)

Let's look at some of the most interesting, controversial, and newsworthy topics in astronomy, including why Pluto is no longer a planet, the nature of black holes, the goals for the Artemis mission that will return astronauts to walk on the Moon, and astronomy in art!

Tuesdays

10 Artists You Don’t (Yet) Know, Charlie Goldberg 
July 7 – 28 | 10–11:40 a.m. (four Tuesdays) IN PERSON/NOT RECORDED, Guzman 3rd Floor, Room 306

Wednesdays

Current Economic Issues, Jon Haveman 
July 8 – 29 | 10–11:40 a.m. (four Wednesdays)

Economics plays a central role in the functioning of every aspect of society. This course will address a set of prominent policy issues where economics is at their core. We will explore their origins as policy matters, the underlying data and evidence, and what policy levers are available to deal with them. Topics are U.S. Economic Update, The Economics of Immigration, Tariff Economics, and Saving Social Security. This course is led by Jon Haveman, Ph.D., the Executive Director of the National Economic Education Delegation.

Four Legal Cases
July 8 – 29 | 2–3:40 p.m. (four Wednesdays) IN PERSON/NOT RECORDED

Thursdays

Great Artistic Rivals: Catalysts of Creativity, Bruce Elliott 
July 9 – 30 | 10–11:40 a.m. (four Thursdays) IN PERSON/NOT RECORDED, Meadowlands Assembly Hall, 106

Historically, the spur of competition often impelled artists to their greatest creations. Examining both temperament and technique, each session will highlight key contrasts between the two towering artistic giants of their era:

• High Renaissance: Raphael vs. Michelangelo
• Venetian Renaissance: Tintoretto vs. Titian
• Baroque Period: Rubens vs. Caravaggio
• Romanticism: Delacroix vs. Ingres

Fridays

Current Issues, Various speakers 
(four Fridays) IN PERSON/NOT RECORDED

Registration Required: $25 individually or $80 for all 4 lectures

Classes will be held in the Creekside Room on the Dominican campus.

• John Rothmann: The World of Politics in 2026
  July 10 | 10–11:40 a.m.
  Well-known SF-based political analyst John Rotmann will be joining us live in person on the Dominican campus to talk about today's political situation – both domestically and internationally. John always covers the news right up to the minute, so don't miss this opportunity to hear what he has to say and to ask him questions.
• Jean Bowler: Has World War III Begun?
  July 17  | 10–11:40 a.m.
  Local historian Jean Bowler will be looking at the current situation in the Middle East and beyond and asking if World War III has already begun. Join us.
• Farhad Mansourian: The Middle East Crisis: Beyond the Headlines—What Are We Not Being Told?
  July 24 | 2 p.m.–3:40 p.m.
  Every day we hear about missile strikes, cease-fires, negotiations, andshifting alliances, yet the Middle East is far more complex than the nightlynews suggests. Were recent diplomatic initiatives masterstrokes of statecraftor costly strategic miscalculations? What forces—strategic, political,economic, and domestic—shape decisions in Washington, Tehran, Jerusalem, and the wider region? Did recent shifts in U.S. policy reflect changing military realities, domestic political considerations, a business plan, or a calculated negotiating strategy?

• Dr Darren Zook: Law, Politics, and Justice: National and International Perspectives
  July 31 |10 a.m. – 12 noon

  What does it mean when someone claims the U.S. Supreme Court has now become “political” and is there any merit to the claim? Is it a crime to kidnap a foreign head of state (such as Nicolas Maduro) to bring them to "justice”? Why is it so difficult to prove a genocide is happening somewhere in the world? Is the war in Iran legal, and is it even a “war”? These and other similar questions force us to confront the relationship between law and politics and how that relationship renders, or fails to render, justice. For this lecture we will look at both domestic and international examples to understand the complex and often convoluted interface of law, politics, and justice.

Mondays

The Indispensable Founder: George Washington 
July 13 – August 17 | 10 a.m. 
As America celebrates 250 years of independence, this course will examine the indispensable founder, George Washington. We will explore Washington's life and political leadership as well as his work as a farmer, entrepreneur, and architect.

Tuesdays

Broadway Musicals: A Fascinating History 
July 21 – August 25 | 2 p.m. 
In this course, we will explore book musicals, concept musicals, and the arrival of European mega-productions late in the century. 

Discovering Portugal 
July 7 – August 11 | 10 a.m. 
In this course, we will explore how a tiny nation – Portugal – played an outsized role in world history.

Wednesdays

Women Architects and Designers 
July 15 – August 26 | 10 a.m. 
Often overlooked in traditional design and architecture courses, Twentieth Century women designers profoundly shaped the way we perceive, experience, and enjoy our built environments, interiors, and decorative objects.

Thursdays

Revolutionary Echoes in Washington DC 
July 9 – August 13 | 10 a.m. 
This course will explore how individuals in Washington, D.C. used the Declaration and its ideas after independence was won.